As a sister to the Group 1 BRC Stradbroke Handicap and Group 1 Kingsford - Smith Cup hero Impending, Godolphin's Lonhro filly Epidemic had a secure future but she ramped up her value a cog when earning her first stakes success in Saturday's Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast.
Ridden by Larry Cassidy for James Cummings, Epidemic defeated Pomelo by a short-head with the fast-finishing Just Dreaming a half-neck away third.
Coming off a pair of wins at Rosehill Gardens, Epidemic advances her record to 5 wins and 3 thirds from 10 starts with earnings of $353,305.
"She's done a good job in her own right and the more Impending keeps winning the more value it creates for her," Godolphin assistant trainer Paul Reid told AAP.
"It was a good, tough win. She's quite a determined little filly and even though it got a little bit tight during the race, she really knuckled down and had a go."
Epidemic becomes the third stakes-winner for the crack racemmare Mnemosyne after Impending and Group III Cameron Handicap winner Forget (Exceed and Excel).
A daughter of Encosta de Lago, Mnemosyne captured the Group 1 1000 Guineas and the Group 1 in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Bred by a partnership that included former champion jockey Ron Quinton, Mnemosyne was a $400,000 Easter Yearling purchase by Woodlands Stud.
Inherited by Darley after the purchase of Woodlands, Mnemosyne has been a heartbreak for Godolphin in recent years. She slipped to Dawn Approach (IRE) in 2014 and to Sepoy in 2015 before missing to Lonhro in 2016.
She was covered by Lonhro's Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes winning son Exosphere last spring.
Epidemic becomes the 76th stakes-winner for Lonhro (pictured) who will stand at a fee of $55,000 at Darley Stud this spring.
